Fusible link fob automatic sprinklers



o.v B. LEWIS. FUSIBLE LINK FDR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS.

APPLICATION FILED II'I'AYISl 1918.

wals' Patented May 2 0, 1919.

Le @g/ pfff@ Zd mr mm-ws grens co.. vom Uma. wl www, o. c

OWEN B. LEWIS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FUSIBLE LINKy FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS. I

` To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN B. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in thecity of Baltimore and lState of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible Linksv for Automatic Sprinklers, of which the following is a specication. p n

My invention is designed to provide a link for automatic sprinklers of fire extinguishing systems and for like purposes which may be made economically, will be eflicient and reliable in use and quickly assembled as to the tw'o parts of which it is composed.

The invention consists in the feature's and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings p igure 1 is a face view of the complete 1in Fig. 2 is avertical section, taken` on line 2-2 centrally thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one' of the plates alone.

Fig. 5 is a view of the inside face of one" of the lates.

The link is composed of two like members or plates 1, 2. Each lajte is formedv with aV central recess or poc et 3V of substantially hemispherical form and extending from thisv pocket on the inner face of the plate is a rib 4 which is formed by upsetting the metal from the one face which I willl call the outer face, inwardly so as to proJ'ect from this latter face. The' rib has divergent portions extending from the central pocket and thesemerge into' parallel portions at 5 which are.l

though reversed in position, to that of the' rib` above mentioned and this recess is of a width and of a cross sectional shape adapted to receive a rib like that above described on' the second plate 2. This second plate 2 is of exactly the same shape as plate 1. lhey are both made by the saine die. In placing them Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2o, 1919.

Application iled May 13, 1918. Serial No. 234,262.

together they are reversed in position so that the recess groove or channel 7 of one platev Will be opposite to and receive the rib 4 projectin from the other plate, so that the plates wil interlock and it will be necessary onl to prevent them from separating from eac other laterally in order that they mayfunction as a compositeV link for resisting strong pressure either longitudinally or transversely in an edgewise direction.

The means for holding them together includesa mass of solder at 8 filling the spherical recess formed between the pockets' 3 of the two plates. When brought together and interlocked by means of theirv ribs and groovesv 4, 7, the two pockets 3 of the plates match and provide the recess in whichthe main mass of solder 8i is held.

In assembling the two plates to form the link, one of the plates is laid flat on' a suitable support and the mass or lump of solder of the proper size is laid in the recess 3 thereof and the other plate is placed in position with its recess 3 and ribs 4 and groove 7, matching the complementary parts of the first plate and theny by applying? heat suflicient to melt the solder the two plates willv with an opening7 l0 to receive the strut ofl the sprinkler head. This link is' intended for use with any suitable' form of sprinkler head. The usual forni has a pair of struts with laterally extending arms, whichv are maintained in position', to hold the valve inplace by the fusible link and my invention is adapted for use with this form of sprinkler head or any other form.

In use the ball of solder at the center of the plates not only attaches the plates together, but it materially aids in resisting any movement of one plater on the other in an edgewise direction. Any tendency of the plait'es to move one on the other is alsof resisted by their ribs and grooves interlocking with each other.

The cross portion 6" of the ribsf and grooves extend at right angle to the longitudinal axis of the link and hence at right angles to the line of the main strain and this cross portion presents a long bearing for the parts.

The parallel portion 5 of the ribs and grooves resist ltendency to separate in an edgewise direction transverse to the main longitudinal aXis of the link while the divergent portions of the ribs and grooves resist tendency to separate in both a longitudinal and transverse direction. The channels 7 aid in the distribution of the solder between the plates. The solder exposed at the edges of the plates receives the heat direct and conducts it to all other portions of the solder.

The two members of the link are interlocked by rounded surfaced ribs fitting in correspondingly shaped grooves and it will be observed that there are no square or sharp interlocking corners which will tend to unduly retain the plates in their holding relation after the solder melts. On the contrarythe rounded interlocking parts will permit an instant separation of the plates as soon as the solder ceases to function as a means to attach the plates together. S0 long as the plates are held in their proper relation the interlocking ribs and groove walls will effectually resist tendency for one plate tol be displaced edgewise in relation to the other and the interlocked portions take the direct strain and relieve the solder from stress.

I claim Y l. A fusible link consisting of two plates placed face to face each having a cup shaped formation at its central portion which substantially register with each other, said plates each having a projecting portion and a recessed portion with the projecting portion of one fitting in the recessed portion of the other, whereby the plates are interlocked and solder in the recess formed by the cup shaped parts, substantially as described.

2. A fusible link consisting of two plates of like formation each having a cup shaped formation at its center, and each having a projecting portion and a recess at diferent parts of one face, said plates being placed together face to face with one reversed in relation to the other so that the projection of each plate will it in the recess of the other plate and solder in the space formed by the cup shaped parts, substantially as described.

3. A fusible link composed of two plates of like formation each having a cup shaped formation at its central part with a rib on one side of the cup shaped portion and a recess in the plate at the other side of the cup shaped part, said rib and recess being on the same face of the plate, said plates being arranged face to face so that their cup shaped portions will substantially register and the rib on each plate will fit in the rccess of the other plate and solder between the plates and in the cup shaped parts, substantially as described.

t. A fusible link composed of two plates of like formation each having a cup shaped formation at its central part with a rib on one side of the cup shaped portion and having a recess at the other side of the cup shaped part, said rib and recess being on the same face of the plate, said plates being arranged face to face so that their cup shaped portions will substantially register Y and the rib on each plate will fit in the recess of the other plate and solder between the plates and in the cup shaped parts, the said recess in each plate connectin with the cup shaped central recess thereo substantially as described.

5. A fusible link composed of two like plates each havin a central cup shaped part and having a so a groove composed of divergent portions extending from the cup shaped part and a transverse portion connecting the divergent portions and a rib of similar form to the said groove but of smaller dimensions, said plates being placed face to face in reversed position with the rib of one plate fitting in the groove of the other plate and solder between the plates.

6. A fusible link consisting of two sheet metal plates, each havinp` a central depression with a groove extending therefrom in a general direction lengthwise of the plate and with a transverse extension, and having a similar rib on the other side of the central depression and on the same face of the plate, said plates being reversed in position and placed face to face with the rib on each plate fitting in the groove of the other plate, sub-v stantially as described. Y

7. A fusible link consisting of two plates having registering recesses in their adjacent faces lled with solder, each of said plates having la rib on one face and a recess on its otherface in line with the rib, and with the 105 rib on each plate engaging the recess of the opposing plate, substantially as described.

8. A fusible link consisting of two plates with pockets formed near their central portions, registering with each other and con- 110 taining a body of solder, each of said plates having distributing channels leading from said pockets, and each having ribs fitting in the channels of the opposing plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

OWEN B. LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

